Surgery is becoming as the ultimate solution for seriously obese patients. Demand for bariatric surgical devices in the USA is predicted to achieve levels of $1.9 billion by 2015. Main drivers of growth include increasing levels of obesity, better surgical outcomes, the development of new surgical techniques, and the intrinsic benefits of long term loss of weight.

Rising proportion of obesity and overweight population in both developed and developing countries is expected to enhance the demand for various types of weight loss therapies for treatment of obesity. In particular, bariatric surgery has emerged as the last hope for morbidly obese patients, who have failed to achieve weight reduction through other therapeutic measures such as diet control, lifestyle changes and pharmacotherapy. Apart from providing rapid results, bariatric surgeries increase life span of patients and improve quality of life. With clinical data offering support for the effectiveness of obesity surgeries in lowering morbidity, surgical treatment of obesity is expected to gain strength.

According to Global Industry Analysts, in the US, growing emphasis on physical health, and increasing demand for rapid results is contributing to the increasing demand for bariatric surgical devices. Rising awareness about risks of obesity are fostering advancements in technologies and products for obesity treatment as well as for combating co-morbidities such as osteoarthritis, obstructive sleep apnea, and psychological disorders. Gastric bypass or Roux-en-Y Gastric bypass is the most common bariatric procedure to be performed in the United States. However, laparoscopic adjustable gastric band procedures is steadily becoming popular in the US, due to the lower morbidity and lower cost associated with the procedures when compared to laparoscopic gastric bypass procedures. Driven by the minimally invasive nature of the procedure, gastric band devices are expected to continue posting healthy gains in the market.

Growing concerns over rising obesity levels, particularly among children and adolescents, and constant improvements in technologies, devices, and surgical skills are expected to boost prospects in the European bariatric surgical devices market. The market for adjustable gastric banding devices represents the largest segment in Europe. Intragastric balloons and novel non-invasive weight loss devices are expected to pose challenge to the dominance of gastric bypass procedures.

Competition in the bariatric surgical devices market is intensifying, particularly in the gastric banding devices segment with Allergan and Johnson & Johnson (Ethicon) fighting for a share of the lucrative market. Major players profiled in the report include Allergan Inc., Cousin Biotech, Covidien Ltd., Ethicon Endo-Surgery Inc., Helioscopie SA, Satiety Inc., Surgical IOC, and Medical Innovation Development Company, among several others.